HISTORY was hysterical and horrible when children's favourite author Terry Deary paid a visit to Manchester.

The 57-year-old creator of the "Horrible Histories" series met more than 150 young fans as part of his anniversary tour of the UK.

Terry said: "I love coming to Manchester. It is one of my most favourite places because the audience is so responsive. They always laugh at my really awful jokes, they even laugh at the gory bits."

He greeted a packed audience at St Ann's Church in the city with a song about falling out of an elephant's bottom and an enactment of the Roman invasion of Germany - complete with blond wig and a bushy black moustache.

Delighted fan Samuel Booth, nine, from Swinton, said Terry's visit was the highlight of his Easter holiday.

Samuel said: "My favourite book is Groovy Greeks. It really makes me laugh, and I took it with me for Terry to sign. It really made me interested in history. When I grow up I want to be a historian."

Terry has been credited with making history popular and sparking the imagination of children around the globe.

He mimicked the history lessons he had to endure at school and made it clear that teachers didn't always know best.

He told the children: "I hated history at school, it was so boring. Teachers only gave you tests to see how well you knew their notes and they never told you the horrible bits - that's what I'm doing."